(openPR) - Over the past year, skyrocketing gas and grocery prices have sent many Americans looking for ways to leverage their existing capital, including those assets which have been gathering dust in their jewelry boxes. Near record level prices for gold and diamonds has been a boon for hard-pressed consumers in need of extra cash, as well shoppers who’ve decided now is the time to bring their fine jewelry and watches into the 21st century. To better assist those who are considering selling their second-hand jewelry, San Diego Jewelry Buyers has just announced the publication of the SDJB Selling & Loan Guide for fine jewelry, diamonds, and watches.

Highlights from the guide include:

**The United States has over 12,000 businesses that buy and sell used jewelry, watches, and diamonds. Not all are the same. When deciding on whom to entrust with your fine jewelry transaction, be selective, do research, and choose only those businesses that specialize and understand the current jewelry market.

**For simple gold jewelry, the rule of thumb is to accept 50%-80% of gold’s current trading price, otherwise known as the “spot price”. Remember that 24K jewelry is pure gold, 18K is 75%, 14K is 58%, and 10K is 41.7%. For name brand fine jewelry and watches (such as Tiffany, Cartier, Rolex, and Patek Philippe) you can expect to get higher prices, depending on the condition of the piece, as well as the maker, and overall desirability.

**Not all jewelry can be resold or used as collateral. Very few businesses will accept costume jewelry, unless it a very rare item. And silver jewelry is worth only a fraction of what gold jewelry is worth, although some kinds of designer and/or antique silver jewelry can be valuable.

**To ensure the best price for your gold jewelry, deal only with those buyers who set their scales in grams. Some buyers set their scales in penny weight (1.55 grams), which likely means less money for you.

**Avoid those businesses which charge an unreasonably high interest rate on their loans. In states like Texas the legal rate for short term loans can go as high as 240%! Do not allow a troubling financial situation to force you into such a loan arrangement. There are always businesses to be found that will charge you a reasonable interest rate. And if you need help, seek guidance from a free consumer credit management service, such as: Debt-mgt.org or Familycredit.org.

**When obtaining a loan on fine jewelry or watches your anonymity and credit rating are protected. Loan operators don’t do credit checks. If the customer can’t pay back the loan it doesn’t hurt their record. The loan operator simply keeps the collateral.

To read the entire SDJB Selling & Loan Guide, please visit their website at SanDiegoJewelryBuyers.com.

San Diego Jewelry Buyers
861 6th Ave, Suite 125 San Diego, CA 92101
619-239-0900
Contact: Alan Blyler
sandiegojewelrybuyers@gmail.com

Located at the Jewelers Exchange Building in the gas-lamp quarter of downtown San Diego, SDJB leverages over 20 years of industry experience and fine jewelry expertise to make certain that customers receive the fairest cash offers and loans for their diamond/gemstone jewelry, and premiere brand watches.